Jason English
What Bill Buckner Said 19 Days Before Game Six of the ’86 World Series
by Jason English - October 25, 2011 - 10:10 AM

Today is the 25th anniversary of Mookie Wilson’s routine ground ball going through Bill Buckner’s legs, forcing a Game Seven that the New York Mets would also win. You’ve seen the clip and heard the call (“Gets by Buckner!”), but did you know Buckner himself laid out the scenario weeks before the fateful play?

On October 6, 1986, Buckner was interviewed by WBZ-TV’s Don Shane about the pressures of postseason play. In a quote that recently appeared in ESPN’s Steve Bartman documentary Catching Hell, Buckner eerily explains his worst case scenario:

“The dreams are that you’re gonna have a great series and win. The nightmares are that you’re gonna let the winning run score on a ground ball through your legs. Those things happen, you know. I think a lot of it is just fate.”

According to Dan Shaughnessy’s 1997 book At Fenway: Dispatches from Red Sox Nation, the footage didn’t resurface until 1995, when intern Maggie McGrath spent two weeks looking through old tapes after a viewer said he remembered the interview.

A quick and unscientific survey of my Red Sox fan friends reveals many in Boston have forgiven Buckner — the 2004 and 2007 World Series titles probably helped. Though I’m not sure any of them would shell out $84.99 for an 8×10 photo (above) signed by both Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner.

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Comments (12)

  1. Forget 04 and 07. Buckner came back to the Red Sox as a player in 1990 and was given a standing ovation during opening day intros.

    The whole Forgiving Buckner thing was so a media driven thing.

    posted by H on 10-25-2011 at 12:26 pm

  2. If you are a real Red Sox fan, a fan of baseball, or a fan of Bill Simmons (of which I am only the latter 2), you would know about Simmons’ position that Buckner was simply the easiest scapegoat for the loss of that series. This baseball game is one of the earliest sports memories I have (I am 38 and I was 13 at the time) and even I knew that Buckner was not at fault for the loss of that game (and the series). The crap sandwich of horrible relievers is to blame….Buckner only made the worst error at the worst possible time.

    posted by IFB on 10-25-2011 at 12:29 pm

  3. I recently saw an ESPN special on Game 6 of the ’03 Marlins-Cubs NCLS called “Catching Hell”. In addition to recapping the foul ball incident, it also covers the Red Sox ’86 series and has interviews with Buckner and a segment about his return to Fenway to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day in ’08 It’s amazing when so many should share the blame (in both cases) that it gets pinned on one. Definitely worth a watch for any baseball fan and particularly for Cubs or Red Sox fans.

    posted by Janice on 10-25-2011 at 1:54 pm

  4. Incredible, so sadly prophetic quote. Poor Bill Buckner. A great player who deserves a better baseball legacy.

    posted by Eddie on 10-25-2011 at 2:35 pm

  5. The image of Buckner playing London Bridge with the ball is permanently etched in my mind just like George Brett running for the umpire during the “Pine Tar” incident

    posted by Jake Cheyenne on 10-25-2011 at 2:56 pm

  6. Man, I don’t get these comments that Buckner is “forgiven” –

    Every time I see that footage, I get the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

    The fact is, Buckner blew an easy play that any little leaguer would/could/should have made…but, in my opinion, Buckner should not have even been playing – considering that he could hardly walk, due to bad ankles.

    posted by Leslie on 10-25-2011 at 4:49 pm

  7. Thank God for Bob Stanley
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3UXgwqlDAo&feature=related

    posted by Peteski on 10-25-2011 at 4:54 pm

  8. don’t know nothin’ ’bout baseball, but i saw buckner on this season of curb. he’s very funny and seems like a great guy. just found himself on the losing end of a great sports moment.

    posted by brandon on 10-26-2011 at 1:30 am

  9. I was always a Bill Buckner fan, since his days with the Dodgers. My heart sinks that he is still remembered for that ONE stupid play after he made hundreds of great ones. Scapegoat!

    posted by Hally on 10-26-2011 at 1:32 am

  10. As a mets fan, I was tickled pink to get a ball (not THE ball) signed by both players. I assume Buckner signed it first! Hahahahaha!

    posted by Tom Rankin on 10-26-2011 at 9:01 am

  11. I choose to focus on something completely different….STEVE BARTMAN WORKS FOR ESPN???

    posted by JRD on 10-26-2011 at 2:14 pm

  12. @JRD I think they were referring to a Documentary that ESPN recently made about Steve Bartman. I watched the documentary, it was excellent. I liked the stuff about Buckner. I bet Cubs fans will forgive Bartman when the Cubbies win the series. If not I’m sure he can find some White Sox fans to hang out with.

    posted by Brit on 10-26-2011 at 6:00 pm

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